Improved one-part and two-part liquid products such as, e.g., mouthwashes,
mouthrinses, toothpastes, gels and the like, for remineralizing subsurface
lesions and/or mineralizing exposed dentin tubules in teeth contain a
cationic component, an anionic component and a separating means for
separating the cationic and anionic components. The anionic component
contains water-soluble phosphate and fluoride salts, while the cationic
component contains at least one partially water-soluble calcium salt and
preferably at least one water-soluble salt of a divalent metal other than
calcium. The tooth is treated with a mixed aqueous composition formed by
mixing the cationic and anionic components with water and/or saliva. The
mixed aqueous composition has a pH of from about 4.0 to about 10.0 and, in
addition to dissolved calcium cations and dissolved phosphate and fluoride
anions, contains a quantity of undissolved calcium salt. The use of the
partially water-soluble calcium salt delays precipitation of the cations
and anions in the aqueous composition until after the ions have diffused
through the tooth surface to the subsurface and/or dentin so as to effect
remineralization and/or mineralization, respectively.